Often, the bedtime stories that I read to my kid explain one or the other design principle so efficiently and effortlessly that even a five-year-old can understand.

Here’s one such story that explains the second usability heuristic:

“Speak the user’s language.”

Once, famous musicians gathered at Akbar’s court for a musical competition.

There was a bull standing in the middle of the court. Akbar entered the court and announced that the one who captures the bull’s attention would be declared the winner.

One by one, the musicians played the most mesmerizing music. But, the bull did not pay any attention.

Then came Birbal’s turn. He played the mooing of cows and the droning of mosquitoes. The other musicians made fun of him as he was not a musician and he did not play the best music.

But, to everyone’s surprise, the bull started to move happily to Birbal’s music.

Akbar declared Birbal, the winner.

No matter how good the design is, it’s not going to solve the problem unless it speaks the user’s language.